Linda Schlotfeldt

Rock Rapids, IA Linda Schlotfeldt, age 98 of Rock Rapids, IA died Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at Lyon Manor Nursing and Rehab in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 20, 2010 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids, IA with Rev. Dr. Dave Christensen officiating. Burial will follow at the Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Friday, March 19, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with family present from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Linda Watke Schlotfeldt was born August 5, 1911, near Alvord to Carl and Mathilda (Nagel) Watke. She grew up near Alvord, attending country school through eighth grade and graduating from Alvord High School in 1929. Her career as an elementary school teacher in the Alvord area rural schools, Lester Public School, and West Lyon Community Schools began after graduation and lasted more than 45 years. On January 30, 1943, she married Erv Schlotfeldt in South Sioux City, Nebraska. Following his discharge from the U.S. Army in 1945 at the end of World War II, they made their home in Rock Rapids where she, in addition to her teaching career, was active in the Delta Kappa Gamma Educational Sorority and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church. In 1960, Linda was recognized as the Iowa Rural Teacher of the Year and was the first secretary of the NW Iowa Reading Council. She is survived by her niece, Carol (Howard) Leavitt, their daughters, Vicki Simmons and Kelli Mendenhall and families all of Las Vegas, NV; nephew, Charles (Diana) Fitzgerald, their children Hannah Jones (Cory) and family, Elliott and Logan Fitzgerald all of Puyallup, WA; niece, Shirley Watke (Merle) of Omaha, NE; and their children Sherry Shively (John) and Kim Allen Watke and family all of Sioux Falls, SD. Linda was preceded in death by her husband in 1982, parents, brother, Albert Watke, sister, Viola Fitzgerald, sister-in-law, Ruth Watke, brother-in-law E.C. Fitzgerald, and nephew, Merle Watke.